Showing papers by "Brigitte Chamak published in 2008"
TL;DR: It is suggested that both the autism-category changes in the late 1980s, and the development of educational and behavioural methods in the United States, have given rise to a large-scale mobilisation around the changes inThe definition of autism and interventions in many countries.
Abstract: The aim of this empirical investigation is to analyse the social movements brought about by autism-related issues. It is suggested that both the autism-category changes in the late 1980s, and the development of educational and behavioural methods in the United States, have given rise to a large-scale mobilisation around the changes in the definition of autism and interventions in many countries. The present paper highlights the historical dynamics of the mobilisation of French parents' associations and the engagement of autistic persons' organisations. The role of the French parents' associations has been studied over the last 40 years to show how they have contributed to shaping public policy in France and how they have favoured the American model of autism despite the French professionals' resistance. At the international level, the newly-born associations of autistic individuals have introduced new actors who sometimes reproach the parents' associations for speaking on their behalf. These new associations, such as self-help groups, have a political identity problem. Their members no longer want to be considered as patients but as individuals with a different cognitive mode of functioning. Their actions can be analysed in the broader context of the disability movement. If the disability movement is considered as the latest generation of social movements, the action of autistic persons can be viewed as the latest generation of the disability movements.
162 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that what has been selected as major signs by psychiatric nosography is regarded as manifestations induced by perceptive peculiarities and strong emotional reactions by the autistic persons who expressed themselves, and deserves to be taken into account by professionals to better understand the behavior and needs of autistic persons.
Abstract: Background: To date, few studies have focused on the viewpoints of autistic persons themselves despite an increasing number of published autobiographies. The aim of this study is to
121 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, les associations de parents d'enfants autistes reclamaient l'ouverture d'hopitaux de jour, dans les annees 1990, cette revendication s'est transformee en une remise en cause des professionnels et une volonte de s'eloigner du milieu psychiatrique.
Abstract: Si dans les annees 1970 les associations de parents d'enfants autistes reclamaient l'ouverture d'hopitaux de jour, dans les annees 1990, cette revendication s'est transformee en une remise en cause des professionnels et une volonte de s'eloigner du milieu psychiatrique. Longtemps mises en accusation, les familles se montrent de plus en plus sceptiques vis-a-vis des autorites medicales et administratives et rejettent parfois les prises en charge proposees par les institutions. Elles reclament un diagnostic precoce pour obtenir des aides et mettre en place des interventions adaptees. La psychanalyse, qui pendant longtemps a constitue l'approche privilegiee en matiere d'autisme, est aujourd'hui decriee par les associations qui reclament l'integration scolaire pour leurs enfants et la generalisation des methodes educatives et comportementales.
16 citations